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Football (soccer) brings out the passion in fans like no other sport. That’s why it’s called “The Beautiful Game”. However, very few stadiums around the world can match the atmosphere and history these iconic stadiums create. If you consider yourself a football fanatic, it’s REQUIRED that you visit these stadiums before you head to the great stadium in the sky.

Anfield – Liverpool

There’s no other club in the Premier League that can match the passion Liverpool fans have for their club. In recent years, the atmosphere created at the stadium has diminished sharply, but come derby day there’s nothing more chilling to the other side and fans than 40,000+ spectators singing “You’ll Never Walk Alone”. If the Signal Iduna Park can be renowned for its Yellow Wall, let Anfield be remembered for its European nights and Bill Shankly days.

Estadio Maracana – Flamengo

On July 16, 1950, over 170,000 fans packed into the Mecca of Football. It was Brazil vs Uruguay for the World Cup trophy. The Brazilians were going into the match as heavy favorites and all they needed to do was not lose to win their first World Cup ever and do it on home soil.

90 minutes later, what was once a loud and boisterous crowd was silenced as Uruguay ran home with the trophy, 2-1 winners on the day in a game etched into the minds of Brazilians to this day as a national tragedy, forever known as the “Maracanazo”.

The Maracana will be widely remembered for that game, but it was where arguably the greatest player of all time, Pele, scored his 1000th goal. Speaking of Pele, his footprints are immortalized forever in the stadium, along with Ronaldo, Zico, Romario and more. Definitely a stadium for those who want to experience football history.

Westfalenstadion (Signal Iduna Park) – Borussia Dortmund

In the 2014-15 season, the average attendance for Dortmund’s home games was the highest in Europe at 80,463. As a result, the stadium creates arguably the most intense and intimidating atmosphere for opposing fans and teams in all of Europe. It’s home to the infamous Yellow Wall. The Yellow Wall is so boisterous, noisy, and scary that even Bastian Schweinsteiger admitted that it worried him more than Dortmund’s players or manager. From the tifos to the earthshaking cheers, Westfalenstadion is widely regarded throughout the footballing world as the stadium with the best atmosphere in the sport. It should be a crime to not experience it and be left in awe. Though it can be pricey to travel to Germany, it’s well worth the experience. Budget-conscious fans can still get there by using Expedia coupons from discountrue to save on flights and other travel expenses. There are very few places in the world which offer the same kind of fan experience as this stadium—so don’t miss out!

Estadio Azteca – Club America

7,400 feet in the air stands the world’s most famous stadium. The Estadio Azteca is where Diego Maradona scored his infamous Hand of God and sublime Goal of the Century against England, which cemented his name in folklore forever. It was where Italy and Germany took part in the Game of the Century, a topsy-turvy 4-3 game that cannot be described in words. It’s where the great Brazillian side of 1970 would lift the World Cup. Are you starting to see its importance in football history? Make no mistake about it, if you can only pick one of the stadiums listed here, pick the Estadio Azteca and see why it’s so tough to win at, see why history was made, and see why Diego Maradona will be remembered as the greatest player of his time.

So those are four stadiums you should visit before you die. It was definitely a tough list to assemble, and notable stadiums had to be left out (Wembley, La Bombonera, San Siro, Camp Nou, etc.). Their history and atmosphere are what separated them from the pack, and you haven’t lived until you’ve visited them all.

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Vintage Athlete of the Month

In recognition of the start of football season, the Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Month is one of the original stars for the defending Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots.

In many ways, Gino Cappelletti epitomized the early years of the American Football League. While the NFL was becoming more specialized and tougher to break into, the AFL provided former college stars with a new place to play and its “wild west” mentality allowed players to contribute in a wide variety of ways.